Baby chick shipping box



Sept. 14, 1948. R. R. HARNESS 2,449,222

BABY CHICK SHIPPING Bpx I Filed March 22, 1946 lNvEN-roF ATTORNEYRUSSELL R. HARNESS Patented Sept. 14, 1948 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE`BABY CHICK SHIPPING BOX Russell R. Harness, Elwood, Ind.

Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,378

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers, generally, and concerns itselfprimarily with vented boxes of the type in which fowl, such as babychicks, are transported.

2 Fig. 1 is a plan View of a box embodying 'the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box illus- It is a general object ofthe instant invention 5 trating features bf its novel coverconstruction.

to provide a box having partitioned compartments therein which areindividually accessible through nap closed openings in a removable coverof the box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a partitioned boxsuitable for the transportation of live fowl which is absolutely safeand which assures absolute segregation of the stock shipped.

Still another object -of the invention is to provide an improvedshipping box suitable for the transportation of live objects, such asbaby chicks, having partitioned compartments individually accessiblethrough iiap Closed openings in a removable cover of the box, whichflaps are adaptable to positive sealing and further are supported by thepartitions of the box in a manner to prevent l their infolding.

l vide'an improved cover or lid for a partitioned box having individualcompartments therein, which cover is provided wth a plurality of ilapscut in a manner whereby said ilaps are individually supported by thepartition walls of the box and are further adapted to be sealed in pairsby an improved stapling device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box cover havingopenings therein which are closed by flaps cut in sections formingpairs, one section having two of its sides completely severed from thecover material, and two other of its sides creased for bending, saidcreased sides forming the hinged portions of said flaps, and theindividual ilaps being formed by severing the section material lyingbetween the two creased sides along a line offset from its mid-point andparallel with the creased sides for a distance approximately half of thewidth of said iiap, thence, normal to said creased sides for a distanceapproximating the length of one oi said creased sides, then again,parallel to the creased sides to the next line of severance. Thematerial may be such that a hinge line can be obtained without actualcreasing of the material.

Other objects and advantages will become apv parent as the descriptionproceeds and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention will beafforded from the following detailed specicatlon, which may beconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Inthe transportation of live fowl, such as baby chicks, it is the practiceof shippers to use vented cardboard boxes as transporting coops.Although Aifi numerous types of boxes have been proposed, the one mostcommonly used is a iiat rectangularly shaped box which `usually isdivided intofour compartments. The box itself is covered by means of alid which may be removed from the box in one complete section, and, dueto this construction, some serious problemshave presented themselves inits use. In the l'lrst place, and particularly in connection with thetransportation of pedigre-ed fowl, it is necessary that they besegregated according to strain, sex, size, age, and other categories.With the prior art box, it has been found that segregation is verydiflicult to maintain during the loading of the compartments. The extentof this problem can be appreciated more fully with a knowledge of theactions displayed by baby chicks in attempting to free themselves fromenclosures. During loading, it is necessary to iirst fill 4one ofthecompartments, then cover that compartment, as well as can be done, witha portion of the lid until the :next one is filled, and so on until allof the compartments are loaded. During this proceeding ample opportunityis afforded for the baby chicks to jump from one compartment to theother, and out of the box. f

Further, such procedure makes it necessary to place the lid onthe Iboxafter the compartments are filled with chicks. Because chicks, after aday or two ofv life, are active and tend to jump over the walls andpartitions, there is a -danger of crushing and killing them when the lidis placed on the box.

Both of these problems can be, and are, solved by making Aopenings inthe box for each compa-rtment. It is desired, however, that the cost ofthe box shall not be increased and that any closing means used for theseparate openings shall not be subject to infolding; shall not requireadditional supporting means that will interfere with the spaces withinthe box; or lie outside the box so that the containers have irregularsurfaces, and that they be adapted to quick and positive sealing. All ofthese conditions are met and the problems resolved in the structure nowto be described.

As illustrated in the drawings a l'lat box II of the usual size andconstruction is provided.

3 This box is divided into four compartments I2, I3, I4 and I5, by twopartitions I6 and I'I. A cover I8 is also provided for the box Which isremovable therefrom in one piece.

Although not limited to the use of any particular material the box ispreferably made of paper taking any of the Well known forms, such aspressed board, cardboard7 or corrugated board. The cover has four flapsI9, 2l, 22 and 23, which open respectively into-the compartments I2, I3,I4 and. The napv I9 is cutfrom the paper cover along the lines 214, 2-5,126, 21 and 28. It

hinges substantially on the line 29 which ,'ior

convenience may be creased, depending upon the material used. The flap2| is, of course, formed by slits along the lines 25, I26 andA 2-'IWhichsare common to the ilap I9, is additionally cut along the lines 3|and 32 and is hinged along the line 33 for folding.

The flap I9 has twoiholes 34 and 35 cut therei in `which ,are aligned,respectively, With ,com- *"panion holes 26 andi Bl'in the-"ilap' 2l.y'These holes are adapted, in pairs Sil-*36 Aand'-`,?a5-f-?,'i, toreceive `metalfcl'arnpsl Sii-Which' securely fasten the flaps 4togetheragainst opening.

vif's`everance'of the-flaps l'fand' 2i form extem ,'sio'nsrfor' eachofftheillaps vwhich lie above, and flare;` supported by a section `rofthe partition v'vall vf iilist'infolding due-td vthev supporting action"of the'conipartrnentwall. I

The1iiapsi22 `and`23 are formed identically-'with lj-'the flaps vand`2I,fan :l the entire box is vented ['"sidelvvalls'of the boxand in thecover, as shown.

With reference toFigj 3,-Which shows thevflap IQ in its-*raisedposition,I it will be seen that the 'c compartment i2-is individuallyaccessible through theopening-:coveredby the ilap. `Itvvill be notedtched, or closed by =the hand or the ilap," during eillingfoithiscompartment.` n

' n "cases Where segregation is'I not important, ff hei'flap' openingsmay be 'used'for'loadingg only, to prevent injury to the chicks and thenclamped ffclo'secl. When fthe box reaches its destination hecoveroffthebox may be removed-'in one piece nd 'the compartments quickly emptied.Where important-'to keep'the contents of each com- ,Y artment-separate,ythe chicks may be removed 5:through the ilap -openings. The box isvthus adaptable to all requirements, is economical, ilgpifeverits`h` the`loss ofowl, and saves the time of Nyi'fhels'hi-pper inloading'and'that/'fof the 'receiver fifi-n unloading.

IEseparating-the'compartments I2 and I3. In his Imanner loothl of' theflaps are protected" f o the-compartment'lz that it may be easily Whilea preferred embodiment of the inven` tion has been illustrated anddescribed it is possible the same may be practiced in other ways withoutdeparting from its basic concepts. lInsofar as all modifications andchanges to which the invention is susceptible fall Within the scope ofthe appended claims they are considered to be covered as if described.

Whatl is claimed is:

1. ',In a v box like containerliaving, av plurality `of compartmentsformedby partition-walls and collectively accessible by the removal of acover for said box, means providing for the individual accessibility ofeach of said compartments comprising a plurality of iiaps cut in thecover of box and hinged for opposed movement in Y, pairs to closeopenings therein communicating Withsaid compartments, each of said flapshaving an extension thereon supported by one of the partition walls vofsaid box, and clamping 32,121. a ,cover f or a 'clii'ckfV box lia-vingapliirality ofA compartments therein formed by partition walls, aplurality oiiiaps iorfclosingj-sep- .arate lopenings-in said covereachppening lcom- 4municating'With one ofsai-d compartmentsisaiid *flapsbeing cutv'in sections from said coverifand "forming flap pairs,` onesection having-two ofwi-ts ,accessibility of feaclfi-of,Y saidcompartments sides .completely severed4 from the cover material and twoother of lits sides creasedi-orbending, saidv creased sides forminghinges Vforthe-*said 'L lflaps and lclamping meanspositionableL in"aligned of .compartments formed by4 partitiony Walls i fandcollectivelyaccessibleby the removal a ,cover for said box, means-providing forthe indil dual j prising af pluralitypiaps cutfin'theic'ove of said box and-hingedfon opposed movmentiin pairs'to closeopenings'thereinl communicating with said compartments, eachofsaidfflapsh'avi' ing anextensionthereon supportedifby onelof abuttingposition, lthereby forming" aic1 s`u'.re.

Rossana-HARNESS:

REFERENCES CITED "ifheqfollowing"references arabi' record the iileofthis, patent:

"UNTEDYSTATES PATENTS i

